Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Zenit News Agency, Italy
June 30 2004
Why Water With Wine
And More on “And Also With You”
ROME, JUNE 29, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.
Q: I would want to know the reason why the priest pours water into
wine during the preparation of the gifts. — J.B., Bo, Sierra Leone
A: The brief rite of pouring water into the wine used for
consecration is very ancient. Indeed, it is believed that Our Lord
himself used wine tempered with water at the Last Supper as this was
the common practice among the Jews and in Mediterranean culture in
general.
Some form of this is found in practically every rite of the Church
both Western and Eastern, except for a group of Armenian
Monophysites.
Although the water is not essential for the validity of the
sacrament, the Church holds it in great importance and it must never
be omitted. The Council of Trent even went so far as to excommunicate
whoever denied the need for this mixture (see Canon 9, Session XXII).
Historically, St. Justin Martyr already mentions this practice in his
Apology around the year 150. About a century later St. Cyprian wrote
on this theme in an epistle against a splinter group that used only
water in their celebrations, and this has become the accepted
interpretation:
“For because Christ bore us all, in that He also bore our sins, we
see that in the water is understood the people, but in the wine is
showed the blood of Christ. But when the water is mingled in the cup
with wine, the people [are] made one with Christ, and the assembly of
believers is associated and conjoined with Him on whom it believes;
which association and conjunction of water and wine is so mingled in
the Lord’s cup, that that mixture cannot any more be separated.
“Whence, moreover, nothing can separate the Church — that is, the
people established in the Church, faithfully and firmly persevering
in that which they have believed — from Christ, in such a way as to
prevent their undivided love from always abiding and adhering. Thus,
therefore, in consecrating the cup of the Lord, water alone cannot be
offered, even as wine alone cannot be offered. For if any one offer
wine only, the blood of Christ is dissociated from us; but if the
water be alone, the people are dissociated from Christ; but when both
are mingled, and are joined with one another by a close union, there
is completed a spiritual and heavenly sacrament.
“Thus the cup of the Lord is not indeed water alone, nor wine alone,
unless each be mingled with the other; just as, on the other hand,
the body of the Lord cannot be flour alone or water alone, unless
both should be united and joined together and compacted in the mass
of one bread; in which very sacrament our people are shown to be made
one, so that in like manner as many grains, collected, and ground,
and mixed together into one mass, make one bread; so in Christ, who
is the heavenly bread, we may know that there is one body, with which
our number is joined and united” (“On the Sacrament of the Cup of the
Lord,” No 13).
Another important symbolic explanation for this rite is given in St.
Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, III pars q 74, 6-8:
“Water ought to be mingled with the wine which is offered in this
sacrament.
“First of all, on account of its institution: for it is believed with
probability that our Lord instituted this sacrament in wine tempered
with water according to the custom of that country: hence it is
written (Proverbs 9:5): ‘Drink the wine which I have mixed for you.’
“Secondly, because it harmonizes with the representation of our
Lord’s Passion: hence Pope Alexander I says (Ep. 1 ad omnes orth.):
‘In the Lord’s chalice neither wine only nor water only ought to be
offered, but both mixed because we read that both flowed from His
side in the Passion.’
“Thirdly, because this is adapted for signifying the effect of this
sacrament, since as Pope Julius says (Concil. Bracarens iii, Can. 1):
‘We see that the people are signified by the water, but Christ’s
blood by the wine. Therefore when water is mixed with the wine in the
chalice, the people [are] made one with Christ.’
“Fourthly, because this is appropriate to the fourth effect of this
sacrament, which is the entering into everlasting life: hence Ambrose
says (De Sacram. v): ‘The water flows into the chalice, and springs
forth unto everlasting life.'”
These different explanations form the basis for the Church’s
understanding of the importance of this rite. This understanding is
at the root of the sentiment expressed by the prayer which the priest
recites in a low voice as he pours the water into the chalice:
“By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the
divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

No Azeri diesel on sale in Armenia – ministry
Arminfo
25 Jun 04

YEREVAN
The Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communications has denied that
Azerbaijani-made diesel oil is being imported from Azerbaijan to be
sold on Armenia’s domestic market, Gagik Grigoryan, head of the
ministry’s foreign relations department, has told an Arminfo
correspondent.
He said that information provided by an expert of the Flash Ltd
company, Musheg Elchyan, that Azerbaijani-made diesel oil was being
transported to Armenia via Georgia was not true.
[Passage omitted: details]

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 25, 2004, Friday
TERRITORIES IN RETURN FOR LIFTING THE SIEGE
SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 23, 2004, p. 5
by Rauf Mirkadyrov
INITIATIVE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT SEIZED BY WASHINGTON
Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanjan and Elmar
Mamedjarov met in Prague last Monday. The meeting was arranged by
chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Stephen
Mann (USA), Henry Jacolen (France), and Andrzej Kasprishka, personal
envoy of OSCE chairman.
Official reports on the meeting were reduced to the traditional vague
phrases like “foreign ministers discussed various aspects and
prospects of Karabakh conflict settlement.” Some observers suspect
that there is more to the settlement process than meets the eye.
Both sides made statements on the eve of the meeting in Prague, and
the statements may be viewed as sensational. “The Karabakh conflict
will be settled soon in accordance with the international law and
with territorial integrity of Azerbaijan honored,” President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing servicemen of some unit
quartered in Gyandzh. Aliyev pointed out, however, that the
negotiations with Armenia “have failed to result in anything so far.”
Needless to say, Azerbaijan “stands for a peaceful settlement of the
conflict but the patience of the people has its limits too.”
“Azerbaijan will never put up with occupation of its lands. It will
liberate them regardless of what it takes,” Aliyev said. “No
compromises are possible where territories are concerned. The sooner
Armenia understands it, the better.”
US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway announced at his press
conference in Yerevan that the following year Washington intended to
take some “serious steps to accomplish progress in the Karabakh
conflict settlement.” To quote the American diplomat, “a military
solution to the problem is not acceptable for the United States.”
Said Defense Minister of Armenia Serzh Sarkisjan, “If Aliyev wants to
begin everything from scratch, he will have to pass again through the
phases we have already negotiated… Moreover, the Armenian army is
much stronger now than it was then, and nobody can safely ignore
these facts of life much less turn history back. I’m surprised that
somebody is still trying to talk to Armenia in the language of force
after this decade.”
It is necessary to say a few words on Aliyev’s optimism concerning
Karabakh settlement “in accordance with the international law”. The
OSCE Minsk Group, for example, is much more cautious with words.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Merzlyakov said only recently that
the Karabakh talks entered what he called a cul-de-sac. In fact,
Moscow is not precisely active in this sphere nowadays. It seems that
the initiative is being seized by Washington.
When Mann was appointed one of the chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Mann is US presidential envoy for the Caspian problems), this
newspaper surmised that the experienced American diplomat would
probably try to settle the conflict beyond the OSCE Minsk Group
format, using shuttle diplomacy. It seems that we were correct. It
was announced at the meeting of leaders of Justice (opposition bloc
in Armenia) recently that on his visit to Yerevan not long ago Man
had asked the authorities of Armenia to return three occupied
districts to Azerbaijan. According to the Armenian opposition, this
was but the first attempt and attempts are being made now to have the
same idea aired by Karabakh authorities.
Mann made his trip to Yerevan right after the oil and gas conference
in Baku and his negotiations with Azerbaijani leaders. It goes
without saying that Karabakh settlement was discussed there.
Observers do not rule out the possibility that the events will take
the turn already suggested by the European Union once – that official
Baku will be told to release transport arteries, life the siege, and
make it possible for Armenia to participate in regional economic
projects.
Translated by A. Ignatkin

*THURSDAY June 24, 2004*
* *
BYU star to wear Utah jersey?
BYU center Rafael Araujo hopes to extend his stay in Utah by being
drafted by the Jazz. (Rick Egan/Tribune file photo)
By Patrick Kinahan
The Salt Lake Tribune
A few days after touching down on U.S. soil for the first time,
Tadeu and Neuza Araujo flew from Los Angeles to New York.
If their son’s wishes come true, the Araujos’ whirlwind trip will
include Salt Lake City this week. Rafael Araujo would like to give his
parents a tour of Brigham Young’s campus, his home the last two years.
But sightseeing is not his primary motivation. Araujo wants to bring
his Brazilian family to Utah on Friday, the day the Jazz formally
introduce their NBA draft picks.
Araujo, BYU’s starting center the last two years, would love the
Jazz to draft him tonight. Even if it means sliding down a few spots, he
still prefers playing for Utah.
“That would be awesome,” Araujo said. “I played there for two years.
I love the community and the people.”
The only problem is, Araujo might not be available when the Jazz
draft at No. 14. They also have picks at 16 and 21.
The 14th pick is guaranteed a three-year contract at a total of
$4.47 million.
Since he began individual workouts for NBA teams, Araujo has seen
his stock soar. Projected as a late first-round pick in April, he could
be a lottery selection.
Diron Ohanian, Araujo’s agent, said most NBA teams have contacted
him in recent weeks. The pair has had to reject many requests for second
workouts.
Araujo has spent the last several weeks flying around the country to
meet with various NBA teams. Ohanian expects his client to be drafted
between Nos. 8 and 16.
“Once the workouts started, all the teams [drafting] 10 and under
started pounding on us to get him,” Ohanian said. “Of course, he didn’t
go to every city. It’s too much.”
Ohanian said he didn’t expect the Portland Trail Blazers to draft
Araujo with the 13th pick. Jazz owner Larry Miller said last week his
team would like to take Araujo with the 14th pick.
But they may have to swing a deal to move up to get him.
“There are teams definitely ahead of them that have expressed
interest,” Ohanian said.
Between 16 and 18 teams have contacted BYU coach Steve Cleveland to
get information on Araujo. Each time, he has given a glowing
recommendation, noting that his former player has the skills to
contribute next season.
Starting his college career at Arizona Western, Araujo was the
Mountain West Conference’s co-player of the year as a senior. He
averaged 18.4 points, shooting 57 percent from the field, and 10.1
rebounds a game.
“Everybody has seen such sustained improvement over the last two
years,” Cleveland said. “I’ve never been around a young man in 25 years
of coaching that had the work ethic that he has.”
At 6-foot-11, 292 pounds, he combines size and strength. Few other
big men can match Araujo’s skill level and potential.
“Everybody has been impressed,” Cleveland said.
Since transferring to BYU two years ago, Araujo has not seen his
parents. Tadeu and Neuza will accompany their son and his wife and baby
daughter to New York for the draft.
“It’s really exciting for them,” Araujo said. “They can’t wait.
They’re really happy for me. They’ve seen all the hard work I’ve done
throughout my life.”
Joining guard Travis Hansen, Araujo will become the second BYU
player drafted in two years. The Atlanta Hawks took Hansen in the second
round last June.
Shawn Bradley was the last Cougar to get picked in the first round.
Barely off an LDS Church mission, he went to the Philadelphia 76ers as
the No. 2 pick in 1993.
<; < s/sports.asp>
< s/178389.asp>
* *
*© Copyright 2004, The Salt Lake Tribune. *
All material found on Utah Online is copyrighted The Salt Lake Tribune
and associated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused
without explicit permission from The Salt Lake Tribune.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/23/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Opposition, Reforms, and Karabagh, All in A Day's Address to PACE 2. KLO Activists Face Criminal Charges 3. Armenia Won't Abandon Cooperation with NATO 4. European Court Condemns Turkey 5. Azeri Sniper Kills Armenian Soldier 6. Council of Europe Ends Monitoring of Turkey 1. Opposition, Reforms, and Karabagh, All in A Day's Address to PACE STRASBOURG (RFE/RL)--In his speech to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on Wednesday, President Robert Kocharian said that the Strasbourg-based body should not have had to discuss the political confrontation in Armenia last April, and defended his administration's response to the opposition calls for resignation. "I regret that some of our deputies drew the PACE into that discussion," he said. "I am convinced that the Council of Europe is not the best place to settle scores between the government and the opposition. All of that must be done in our own parliament." Kocharian described the Armenian opposition's push for power as an awkward attempt to replicate neighboring Georgia's November "Rose Revolution" that was welcomed in the West. "The Armenian opposition failed to take into account the fact that Armenia's economy, unlike Georgia's, is developing dynamically; its government is quite efficient and its democratic achievements are propped up by institutional structures, including police, which are able to maintain public order," he said. In its April 28 resolution on Armenia, PACE said that the Kocharian government's reaction to the opposition protests was "contrary to the letter and the spirit" of its values, and threatened to impose sanctions unless reforms were undertaken by the September PACE session. The Armenian leader, making his second appearance at the Council of Europe since Armenia joined it in January 2001 emphasized the opposition's rejection of calls for political dialogue by the parties of the governing coalition. "Those proposals remain in force, but they must be discussed in parliament, not in the street," he said. The Armenian authorities' compliance with the resolution was discussed earlier this week by the PACE's Monitoring Committee. Its rapporteur on Armenia Jerzy Jaskiernia, is due to submit a final report on that in time for the assembly's next session in September. The committee has also been monitoring the fulfillment of Armenia's broader membership commitments to the Council of Europe. "Armenia has already fulfilled the vast majority of obligations assumed in connection with its accession to the Council of Europe," Kocharian declared, adding that the remaining ones will be honored "by the end of this year." Armenia is going through "an active process of the formation of civil society," he said. The 20-minute speech was followed by a question-and-answer session. The two PACE parliamentarians representing the Armenian opposition boycotted the speech and were not on hand to pose questions. Azeri and Turkish lawmakers, however, grilled the president. Asked by one of the Azeri parliamentarian whether he had any role in the war over Mountainous Karabagh, Kocharian replied, "Yes, I took part in the war. My children were hiding in a basement for three years and had no childhood. I am proud of my participation in the war." Kocharian told another Azeri that his country would have regained most of its territories around Karabagh had it accepted two international peace plans put forward in 1998 and 2001, and stressed that Karabagh has never been apart of an independent Azerbaijan state and should remain outside of Baku's control. 2. KLO Activists Face Criminal Charges BAKU (ANS/Baku Today)Azeri law-enforcement authorities have charged five members of the Karabagh Liberation Organization (KLO) with hooliganism after their arrest on Tuesday for disrupting a NATO planning conference being held in Baku. The group was protesting the participation of Armenian officers Colonel Murad Isakhanian and Senior Lieutenant Aram Hovannisian. KLO leader Akif Naghi is reportedly among those arrested after the group slipped away from police guarding the conference site, and succeeding in smashing a glass wall of the conference hall. KLO deputy chairman Barat Imani told the Turan news agency its protests were not limited to the above disruption, but that a KLO member succeeded in entering the conference site after the NATO session was in progress, and announced: "You are sharing this hall with Armenian officers--aggressors, terrorists, and occupiers. The participation of representatives of aggressor-states in a NATO event conflicts with NATO policies. No one had the right to invite them to Baku, and if they have dignity, they must leave Azerbaijan." KLO had warned authorities earlier that they would take drastic measures if the Armenian officers were allowed to attend the meeting to discuss the NATO-led military exercise to be held in Azerbaijan this September. Azerbaijan's foreign affairs ministry meanwhile dismissed a statement by parliamentary speaker Murtuz Aleskerov, that the Armenian officers had arrived in Baku secretly. A statement by foreign ministry said the arrival of Armenian officers had been officially announced by deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov. 3. Armenia Won't Abandon Cooperation with NATO YEREVAN (AFP/Armenpress)--Responding to whether Tuesday's attack by the Karabagh Liberation Organization, in protest of Armenia's participation at a NATO planning conference Baku, affects Armenia's participation in upcoming NATO events, Armenia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamlet Gasparian said that though the act justly caused concern, Armenia will participate in the June 28 NATO summit in Istanbul. Gasparian stressed the incident was the logical consequence of the Azeri leadership's position and policy [on Armenians], that affects all facets of Azeri society and hinders Armenian-Azeri dialogue. "Despite these obstacles, Armenia is resolute to continue its cooperation with NATO and participate in NATO-organized joint military exercises and other events--including the Istanbul Summit." Meanwhile, Turkey is on high alert to ward off any threat to next week's NATO summit in the country's biggest city that has long been a playground for Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants, far-left guerrillas, and armed Kurdish rebels. Massive security measures are in place for the June 28-29 summit and Turkish authorities say they have received no serious threat of a terrorist attack against the meeting which will be attended by US President George W. Bush and other Western leaders. There have been a number of small bomb attacks in Istanbul in recent weeks, and other cities, similar to those carried out in the past by left-wing militants. In the run-up to the NATO summit, Turkish security forces have detained dozens in security sweeps against several outlawed groups. 4. European Court Condemns Turkey (VOA NEWS)The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Turkey for its treatment of two men detained in 1995 for their alleged ties to a Kurdish rebel group. The court announced its decision in the case of Abdulrezzak Aydin and Abdullah Yunus on Tuesday. Doctors found the two men were physically abused while in Turkish police custody after a police raid against the Kurdistan Workers Party. The European court ruled that Turkey had failed to fulfill its obligation to protect individuals while in the custody of police officers. It awarded each of the men approximately 27,000 dollars for damages and legal fees. 5. Azeri Sniper Kills Armenian Soldier YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--A forty-seven-year-old Colonel from Armenia's armed forces Radik Avetissian was shot and killed by sniper fire in Armenia's northeastern Tavush region that borders the Republic of Azerbaijan. Breaches of the cease-fire agreement are registered periodically in the area, which is a contact line between Armenian and Azeri armed forces. An escalation of tensions on the border was discussed at the recent Prague meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries. 6. Council of Europe Ends Monitoring of Turkey STRASBOURG (ARMENPRESS)The Parliamentary Assembly decided on June 22 to end the monitoring of Turkey, declaring that the country had "achieved more reform in a little over two years than in the previous decade," and had clearly demonstrated its commitment and ability to fulfill its statutory obligations as a member state of the Council of Europe. However, the Assembly resolved to continue "post-monitoring dialogue" with the authorities on a twelve-point list of outstanding issues. In a resolution adopted by 141 votes to 8, the parliamentarians welcomed the adoption of important changes to the Constitution in October 2001 and May 2004, as well as abolition of the death penalty, "zero tolerance" towards torture and impunity, the lifting of many restrictions on freedom of expression, association and religion, the abolition of the state security courts, and the granting of certain cultural rights to Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin. Presenting the report, co-rapporteur Mady Delvaux-Stehres said, "This decision is a mark of our trust in the Turkish authorities that they will continue to make progress. It is also a mark of trust in Turkey itself." In a separate vote, the Assembly also welcomed the "significant progress" made by Turkey in implementing decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including payment in the Loizidou case, but cautioned that some of the cases outstanding were still not settled or only partly so. In its resolution, the Assembly urged Turkey to take eight further steps to help prevent fresh violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Emissions market attracts plant engineers
The Nikkei Weekly (Japan)
June 21, 2004
The Kyoto Protocol is inspiring plant engineering firms and general
contractors, although they emit only limited amounts of greenhouse
gases, to launch operations aimed at trading carbon dioxide emission
rights as a new source of revenue.
Japan is expected to find it difficult to achieve its CO2 reduction
target under the Kyoto pact – a 6% cut in overall emissions in fiscal
2008-2012 from 1990 levels. That will likely force companies that emit
large amounts of the greenhouse gas, such as electric power companies,
oil refiners and steelmakers, to obtain emission rights by working
on overseas projects that help to cut emissions abroad. That will
provide a business opportunity for other firms.
JGC Corp. plans to launch operations in China’s Henan Province as
early as 2006 to collect and break down dinitrogen monoxide, which
has 310 times the global warming effect of CO2. The firm has begun
studying business feasibility with the support of New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It expects to
invest 1-2 billion yen in the operations.
By collecting N2O, a byproduct of nylon materials production, JGC
expects to obtain 2-3 million metric tons of CO2 emission rights
annually, equal to about 0.4% to 0.6% of annual CO2 emissions by
Japan’s industrial sector. The company is also studying operations
to collect CO2 emissions from natural gas fields.
Similarly, Toyo Engineering Corp. plans to launch operations in
Kazakhstan as early as 2005 to collect methane from coal mines to use
for fuel in power generation. The firm expects to secure about 120,000
tons of emission rights annually from the operations. Methane has a
global warming impact 21 times that of CO2. Toyo Engineering plans
to solicit investors for the project, which is expected to cost a
total of about 500 million yen.
General contractors are also considering operations to collect
methane from waste disposal facilities for use as fuel. Shimizu Corp.
plans to launch such operations in Armenia in 2005 and Ukraine in
2008. The company will also pursue these operations in China as soon
as it obtains permission from the government.
Kajima Corp. and Obayashi Corp. are investigating the feasibility of
such operations in Malaysia and Thailand, respectively.
The move by plant engineering firms and general contractors to enter
greenhouse gas emission rights operations underscores how these firms
see global warming as a business opportunity and not solely as an
environmental risk.
JGC and Toyo Engineering established companywide teams about a year
ago to look at potential projects that follow the Kyoto mechanism
allowing industrialized nations to obtain emission rights by helping
developing nations cut their emission volumes.
Because plant engineering firms and general contractors do not operate
factories, their carbon dioxide emission volumes are much lower than
those of electric power companies, oil firms and steelmakers. So
these firms plan to sell the emission rights obtained through overseas
projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, the extra
revenue will help boost the profitability of their overseas operations.
The companies are also aiming to get a head start on South Korean and
Chinese rivals by pursuing plant construction projects in developing
countries and former communist bloc nations. This is because under
the Kyoto mechanism, both South Korea and China are categorized as
developing nations, and thus are ineligible to obtain emission rights
by working on projects outside their borders.
Japanese engineering firms and general contractors will focus on
reducing emissions, such as methane and chlorofluorocarbon gas, which
have a much higher global warming impact than CO2. So even if the
firms’ investments are relatively small, they may be able to obtain
a large amount of emission rights when calculated in CO2 equivalents.

Nazarbayev notes growing threat to CSTO stability, security
By Mikhail Petrov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 18, 2004 Friday 12:22 AM Eastern Time
ASTANA, June 18 – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev
has pointed to the “increased threat to stability and security” to
member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
Speaking at an enlarged meeting of the CSTO summit in the Kazakh
capital Astana on Friday he urged to “reduce to minimum the doubling
of functions within the framework of the organisation, concentrate
on the military-political component and intensify cooperation against
challenges and threats of today.”
Addressing the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia
and Tajikistan the Kazakh leader noted that the CSTO member states
have considerable prospects for military-technical cooperation.
“At today’s meeting we should consider priorities of our activities
for the near-term prospect,” Nazarbayev said.
The Astana summit opened with a discussion in private held behind
closed doors. Russian president’s aide Sergei Prikhodko said
earlier that the main subjects for discussion could be divided into
three parts: the actual coordination of the foreign policy within
international organisations framework, set-up of real functioning of
structures of the CSTO itself and joint operations of its anti-aircraft
defence systems.
The Collective security Treaty (CST) was signed in Tashkent in 1992
by heads of six CIS countries – Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus
joined the treaty in 1993.
The treaty came into force for all the nine countries in April 1994
for a term of five years. However, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan
decided not to sign a protocol on the treaty’s prolongation in
April 1999.
In 2002 the CST was reorganized into a full-fledged international
organisation – the CSTO.
Under the CSTO charter, its member states take joint measures to
form within the framework of the organisation a viable system of
collective security and create regional groups of troops, coordinate
their efforts in the fight against international terrorism, drug
trafficking, weapons smuggling, organised crime, illegal migration
and other menaces to their security.

MUNICIPALITY IS IN INACTIVITY
A1 Plus | 18:14:55 | 09-06-2004 | Politics |
“I accept that we have replied to the application of the “Association
of Investigating Journalists” with delay but I can’t say why”, Karine
Danielyan, chief specialist of Juridical Department of Yerevan
Municipality, announced in the First Instance Court of Center,
Norq-Marash Communes.
Edik Baghdasaryan, Chair of “Association of Investigating Journalists”,
appealed to Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharyan on 02.10.2003 asking to
look through the decisions ex Mayor made regarding the cafes in the
territory near National Opera and Ballet Theatre to research articles.
Instead of answering, the Municipality staff head Suren Koshecyan
informed 40 days later: “It is necessary to make more accurate what
information exactly you expect to get from Yerevan Municipality”.
After waiting for Municipality reply for 7 months Edik Baghdasaryan
appealed to Court, stating that the Municipality’s response runs
counter to the Armenian Constitution, some laws and the Convention
on Human Rights and Basic Freedoms.
Today the “Association of Investigating Journalists” demanded that
the Court call Yerevan Municipality to account for it’s inactivity
and to oblige it to give information about the property near the
Opera and their owners.
Municipality representative Karine Danielyan agreed to give information
and asked Court for some time. Mrs. Danielyan asked Edik Baghdasaryan
to name the cafes he was interested in.
“The properties Karlos Petrosyan, Levon Khachatryan, Bellagio Grish
etc own are in that territory”, Baghdasaryan said. To ease the work
of Municipality Edik Baghdasaryan promised to assume the costs for
copying the documents.
Court set Yerevan Municipality time to perform its duties till June
21, 3:00 PM.

Azeri rep says no “kamikaze” children in occupied district, criticizes
journalists
ANS TV, Baku
7 Jun 04
[Presenter] The Azerbaijani representative of the international working
group to release POWs and hostages and to trace missing persons, Avaz
Hasanov, who has visited Nagornyy Karabakh via Armenia, has already
returned to Baku and is the quest of “Xabarci” [programme]. Let us
now go to ANS’s conference hall. Good evening, Avaz muallim [form
of address].
[Avaz Hasanov, captioned] Good evening.
[Presenter] Avaz muallim, tell us about your trip to Nagornyy Karabakh?
[Hasanov] Representatives of the international working group have paid
15 visits to Karabakh. We have always visited Karabakh via Armenia
as we are involved in tracing hostages and POWs both in Armenia
and in Nagornyy Karabakh on the eve of the visit [as heard]. For
this reason, we first visited Azerbaijan, then Armenia and Nagornyy
Karabakh via Armenia.
[Presenter] What was the main goal of your visit? Did you manage to
achieve it?
[Hasanov] Our visit mainly aimed to trace Azerbaijani hostages and
missing persons. During the visit we wanted to clarify reports received
from the Azerbaijani state committee for hostages and missing persons,
international organizations, NGOs and parents. At the same time, we
were involved in clarifying several newspaper reports and information
provided by two Armenian fugitives who are now in Baku. According to
those reports, there are hostages in several Armenian districts. We
tried to identify those areas, visited the places and looked into
the reports. We failed to verify the information we had.
[Presenter] You were banned from visiting Lacin [Azerbaijani district
under occupation] and you could not visit the facilities where kamikaze
children are [reportedly] being recruited. As an Azerbaijani what
were your feelings?
[Hasanov] I was not allowed to go to Lacin. Other representatives
of our international working group, cochairmen and coordinators
from Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh visited Lacin. Before the visit
to Lacin in the morning we phoned Nagornyy Karabakh to ask for
an explanation. We were told that they were ordered to ban me from
visiting Lacin. They did not explain why. We informed the Azerbaijani,
Armenian and Russian mass media of this. Unfortunately, neither
Azerbaijani nor other media outlets carried this information. I regret
that the newspapers, which are circulating information against me,
did not publish this. The issue remains unclear for us as well. They
have published whatever they wanted to publish about me here.
[Presenter] Avaz muallim, are there any kamikazes in Lacin?
[Hasanov] I repeat that we [as heard, presumably I] did not visit
Lacin’s kindergarten and the cochairmen of the international working
group went there. There is a kindergarten in Lacin, we found out about
it from an American. Naturally, the children there were Armenians. The
information we received could not be confirmed.
[Presenter] Avaz muallim, do you really believe in the importance of
such visits?
[Hasanov] Let the people first prove that such visits are not
important. After this, I would say whether I believe in their
importance or not. Azerbaijan has about 5,000 hostages and missing
persons. We have not been in contact with Armenia over the past 10
years. The international working group has been cooperating with
state bodies, international public organizations, the International
Committee of Red Cross and the OSCE over the past four years. We are
using our opportunities to trace hostages and missing persons. At
times of war, they used to announce truce to exchange hostages and
corpses. Do you think that such visits are not important to Azerbaijan
which has 5,000 hostages.
[Presenter] Avaz muallim, were you happy with the way the Armenians
treated you?
[Hasanov] To be frank, I am dissatisfied with the Armenians’ attitude.
However, I am also not happy with Azerbaijani journalists. I am
displeased with the people who phoned my home to scare off and
reproach my mother by telling her that I had allegedly been taken
hostage and they would do their best to release me. As a result,
for three days my mother was bedridden. I am mainly unhappy with
Azerbaijani journalists who have forgotten about professionalism
and have resorted to this. For instance, the news agency Olaylar has
issued a statement [interrupted by the presenter]
[Presenter] – Avaz muallim, could you please answer our last
question. When are you planning to pay your next visit to the area
and which route will you take?
[Hasanov] We will take the same route as before and take this in
view [as received]. The Azerbaijani government, the Azerbaijani state
working group, the state committee [for hostages and missing persons],
including the foreign ministry and the presidential administration,
were well aware of the route and they read our reports. We will take
the same route to Nagornyy Karabakh. We will inform Azerbaijan of
our next visit.
[Presenter] Thanks.

MIKA handed UEFA Cup chance
UEFA.com, Europe
June 8 2004
Armenia’s FC MIKA and a Ukrainian team will compete in next season’s
UEFA Cup after gaining a place during the fair-play draw made at
half-time in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Bochum,
Germany.
Lucky sides
Clubs from Denmark, Norway, England, Germany, Republic of Ireland,
Finland, Spain, Albania, and Iceland also entered the draw to join
Sweden’s Östers IF in the 2004/05 competition.
MIKA chance
Currently second in their domestic league, which follows the calendar
year, MIKA were third in Armenia’s fair play ranking for last season.
They entered the draw as FC Banants qualified for the UEFA Cup
and second-placed FC Kotayk did not receive a UEFA licence. MIKA
entered the UEFA Cup in 2000/01 and 2001/02 – both times losing in
the qualifying round to Romanian opposition, AFC Rapid Bucuresti and
FC Brasov.
Ukrainian wait
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side joining MIKA and Östers in the UEFA Cup
first qualifying round will not be known until 19 June, when their
domestic season ends.
Fair play rankings
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) finished at the top of the
2003/04 UEFA Fair Play rankings with an average coefficient of 8.314,
meaning a berth for Östers. Another eleven associations finished the
season with a Fair Play coefficient of 8.0 or over, and had played
enough matches to be taken into consideration.
The other clubs nominated for the draw were:
Denmark: Esbjerg fB, winners of Denmark’s domestic fair play
competition.
Norway: SK Brann, runners-up in Norway’s fair play competition to
UEFA Champions League qualifiers Rosenborg BK.
England: Charlton Athletic FC, third in England’s fair play ranking.
First and second-placed Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC have already
qualified for the Champions League.
Germany: SC Freiburg, fifth in Gemany’s fair play ranking. First,
second and third-placed VfB Stuttgart, VfL Bochum 1848, SV Werder
Bremen and Bayer 04 Leverkusen have already qualified for the Champions
League or UEFA Cup.
Republic of Ireland: Cork City FC, runners-up in the domestic fair
play competition to UEFA Cup qualifiers Bohemian FC.
Finland: FC Lahti, winners of Finland’s domestic fair play competition.
Spain: RDC Mallorca, fourth in Spain’s fair play ranking. First,
second and third-placed Valencia CF, RC Deportivo La Coruña and FC
Barcelona have already qualified for the Champions League.
Albania: KS Teuta, fourth in Albania’s fair play ranking. First,
second and third-placed KS Tirana, KS Dinamo Tirana and FK Partizani
have already qualified for the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
Iceland: Throttur Reykjavík, winners of Iceland’s domestic fair
play competition.